Liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing measured amounts of beverages



March 4, 1952 H, DE MILLE 2,588,217

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING 'MEASURED AMOUNTS OF' BEVERGES Flled June 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

March 4, 1952 H DE MILLE 2,588,217 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEASURED AMOUNTS OF' BEVERAGEISA Filed June 22, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 4, 1952 H. DE MILLE LIQUID DISPENSI 2,588,217 NG APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEASURED AMOUNTS 0F BEVERAGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 22, 1948 INVENTOR. HarWeZZeMiZZe.'

BY 2%5@ @AAM TTOAA/EX March 4, 1952 H. DE MILLE 2,588,217 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING Filed June 22, 1948 MEASURED AMOUNTS OF BEVERAGES 4 S11e=.\f,s-SheefI 4 D E nf nnnnlhmmlm INVENTOR. HarZWeZZe/{i ZZe.

awa/M Patented Mar. 4, 1952 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DIS- PENSING MEASURED AMOUNTS F BEV- ERAGES `Hartwell De Mille, New York, N. Y.

Application June 22, 1948, Serial No. 34,401

Claims, (Cl. 22.5-21) This invention is an improved liquid dispensing apparatus; particularly a coin-controlled apparatus for delivering a measured quantity of a flavored non-alcoholic beverage, or alcoholic liquors too if desired.

An important object of my inventi-on is to simplify the design of apparatus of this kind, to provide a complete unit made of comparatively few parts, easy to assemble and certain in operation; capable of being produced without entailing great expense, and relatively small in size, so that it can be readily installed at the place of operation.

Another object is to provide a lifiuid mixing and dispensing unit which is controlled in the usual way when a coin is deposited to drop a cup into position and to set into motion the parts by which the drink is mixed and poured into the cup; but which has a compact arrangement of pipes through which the liouid is conducted and a superior mode of operation by means of valves and actuating members on the outside of the apparatus and in readily accessible position.

The nature and advantages of my invention are made clear in the following description,taken with the drawings, showing an embodiment of my invention in practical form. This disclosure, however, is explanatory only, and many variations in detail may be adopted without deviation from the general plan that distinguishes the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a beverage Vending apparatus according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof in position to deliver its contents, behind a panel or partition screening the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a vertical section in the plane of the line 3 3 on Figure l.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the dispensing member by which both the liquid and the iiavoring syrup are forced int-o the mixing casing enclosing a mixed chamber.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the mixing casing enclosing a mixing chamber.

Figure '7 is a top plan of the parts for controlling the iiow of the liquids in their passage through the apparatus and their eventual expul* sion therefrom.

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section on line 8 8 on Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top plan of the member in which the controlling valves are seated and upon which the operating parts are mounted.

valve members; and

2 Figure 11 is a section on the plane of the line Il II on Figure 10.

The numeral I indicates the main casing Aor housing of the apparatusand 2 a shelf, counterV or other support for the housing o1- body I. The

casing or body I is equipped with legs 3. WhenV installed in readiness for use, the apparatus will be behind a partition, panel or the like to screen it from View and only the drinking cup and the tap from which the ready mixed drink pours into the cup will be visible. Inside the housing is a container 4 full of carbonated water; and the container for the syrup is shown at 5. An admeasured quantity of each is transmitted to aA mixing cup 6 of inverted conical shape, in which the drink is thoroughly agitated; and from theY bottom of the casing enclosing a mixing chamber' S the potion is discharged through a conduit 'I. Beside the housing I is a casing 8 containing stacks of paper cups or other drinking vessels in vertical tubular discharge chutes or magazines 9. The panel Il) screening the unit and the casing 8 may have window openings there-in in front of the casing 8, so that the cups therein will always, be in View and can be replenished when nearlyV exhausted. At the bottom of the magazine the. panel has an opening or recess II at the level of the support 2, upon the bottom of which the cups4 are dropped, mouth up, one by one to be lled.

The end of the pipe 'I is inclined downward and,

is disposed just far enough to one side to be cleared by each cup I2 as it is dropped from the,

magazine 3. Guides may be aflixed tov the inside of the recess I I to prevent the cups from overturn-Ar ing.

The panel I 0 bears a metal strip I3 containing a coin slot I4. The usual mechanism is utilized to respond to the insertion of a coin to set the apparatus into operation. Such mechanism includes an electric circuit and members actuated thereby to bring about the dropping of a cup into position as shown in Figure 2, and the actuation of the valves which open the passages through` which the liquid and the syrup are conducted intoA the mixing cup and then delivered to the drinking cup I2.

to say. that the principal member for actuating end thereof.

The design of such parts is wellV known and needsno full description here, except M shaft carries a gear keyed thereto, and this gear 20 meshes with similar gears 2l and 22, one on each side thereof. The shaft I9 and the gears 20, 2| and 22 are mounted in a seating member or gear block 23 secured to the top of the housing I in front of the magnet I5. The member 23 has a central vertical bearing open at the upper end, for the shaft I9, and at each side of this bearing are upward extending bosses and 26, open at the top, constituting valve casings for seating the valves by which the ducts leading from the reservoirs 4 and 5 to the mixing casing enclosing a mixing chamber 6 are controlled, as will be presently explained. The hub of the gear 20 rests on the top of thebearing 24, and between this gear 20 and the ratchet wheel I8 is a star or escapement wheel or disk 21, with concave recesses in its rim to be engaged by the convex end of a leaf spring 28, affixed to a post 29 on the casing I beside the magnet I5. As illustrated, whenever a coin is dropped and the circuit of the magnet I5 is closed, the ratchet wheel I8 is rotated through one quarter of a complete turn. A spring 30 on the plunger IB holds the pawl I1 in engagement with the ratchet I8.

The container 4 is kept charged with carbonated liquid under pressure by connection with a supply pipe 3I that runs in through the wall of the housing I and is connected to a coil 32 that envelops the syrup container 5, which is at the center of the housing. The inner extremity of the coil 32 is coupled to the receptacle 4, as shown at 33. From the container 4 leads a conduit 34 to the end of the blcok 23 shown at the right upon Figure 8. Other pipes or conduits and 35 respectively connect the same part of the block 23 to the lower end and upper endof a cylinder 31 in the housing I, disposed between the coil 32 and the side of the housing adjacent the screen or panel I0. The cylinder 31 has nipples 35 and 36 by which the conduits 35 and 36 respectively can be conveniently coupled to the cylinder 31. .At 38 is a delivery pipe leading from the block 23 adjacent the other pipes 34, 35 and 35 to the mixing casing enclosing a mixing chamber 5.

Similarly, from the tanks 5, which can be kept lled `with syrup as indicated at 39, through the top of the housing I, a conduit 49 leads from a point near the bottom of the container 6 to the block 23 at the opposite end of the latter. This part of the block 23 is coupled by pipes 4I and 42 respectively to the lower and upper ends of a smaller cylinder 43. The latter is on top of the cylinder 31, and has nipples 4I and 42' for the ready attachment of the conduits 4I and 42. Another conduit 44 associated with the conduits 40, 4I and 42 leads from the block 23 to the mixing casing enclosing a mixing chamber 6. The ends of the conduits 38 and 40 are coupled to nozzles 45 and 46 respectively, discharging into the vessel B, the former above the latter and both turned so that they discharge towards each other, and thus ensure a full mixing effect. At the lower end of the casing enclosing a mixing chamber 5 is a nipple 41 coupled to the delivery pipe 1.

The upper or larger end of the casing enclosing a mixing chamber 6 is closed by a top 48 and is connected to the atmosphere by a vent pipe 49. The two cylinders 31 and 43 are connected by a coupling 50, and the cylinder 31 contains a piston 5I. tains a piston 52. Both pistons are connected by a rod 53 that slides in the bearings in the coupling and the adjacent end of the cylinder 31. The cylinders are measuring vessels and the tWo make The upper or smaller cylinder 43 con- 4 a single member to deliver measured quantities of the liquid and syrup.

The shaft I9 has a groove 54 and the bearing 24 a screw 55 to engage this groove and secure the shaft I9 against displacement. At each side of `the bearing 24 is a rim or boss 55, these bosses encircling and housing the valves 25 and 2E therein. disks, each with a transverse rib 51 across the top. Resting upon each valve is a head 58, each having a transverse groove 59 in its under side to receive the rib 51. The bosses are closed by caps 60 screwed into the upper ends; and these caps have central bearing apertures for the passage of shanks 6I integral with the heads 58. The shanks 6I have longitudinal threaded bores to receive screws 52 with, round inner ends which bear down upon the ribs 51. The keys for the gears 20, 2I and 22 are shown at 53. The gears 2| and 22 rest on the caps 59 and the keys connect the gears to the shaft I9 and 6I so as to make the gearsand the shafts turn together.

The inner ends or bottoms of the bosses 53 have depressions 64 in which are seated packing elements 65, and packing rings or gaskets E6 are disposed between the caps 59 and the heads 53 and between the caps and the edges of the bosses 56 to make the valves and the casings therefor leakproof. The bottom of the block 23 and the packing disks 55 have registering apertures for attachment of the various pipes leading to the containers 4 and 5, the casing enclosing a mixing chamber 6 and the cylinders 31 and 43 respectively. These apertures on Figure 8 have numbers which'are the same as the numbers of Vthe respective pipes joined to apertures and in each instance the letter a is added. Each valve 25 and 25 has a pair of ports 61 at each side, the ports of each pair being united by straight ducts 68.

The pressure of the carbonated water in an outside reservoir connected to the coil 32 will cause the liquid to flow into the cylinder 31 and move the piston 5I up or down, according to which end of the cylinder receives the water. The movement of the piston 5I causes movement of the piston 52. When a coin is dropped into the slot I4, the magnet I 5 turns the shaft I9 and both valves 25 and 26.

Suppose both cylinders are lled above the pistons and the latter are near the bottoms of the cylinders; as in Figure 5, and that the magnet causes the valve 25 to connect the two pipes 36 and 38, and 34 and 35. The pressure of the fluid below the piston 5I will force the piston 5I upward, discharging the contents of the cylinder through the pipes 35 and 38 into the casing enclosing a mixing chamber 6. At the same time the cylinder 31 will be filled from below through the pipes 34 and 35. Likewise, the cylinder 43 now being lled above the piston 52, the movement of the valve 25 will now connect the pipes 42 and 40 to the casing enclosing a mixing chamber 5; and the pipe 44 to the pipe 4I leading to the lower end of the cylinder 43. The cylinder 43 will then,V

simultaneously discharge through the pipe 40 into the casing enclosing a mixing chamber G, and the lower part of the cylinder 43 will simultaneously ll with syrup.

When the pistons reach the upper limits of their movements, they remain stationary till another coin is inserted and then they are forced down. The valves are now shifted through degrees, and the upper ends of the cylinders are.

joined to the containers 4 and 5 through the pipes These valves have the form of circular.

s. 34 and 36, 44 and 42respectively. The pistons are thusf'orded down and discharged again intoithe cup-16 byy way of the pipesa35 and', 38, 4|` and 4:0 respectively. A ready mixed drinkis thusV always dispensed at the cavity Hf.`

.The housing I. has a` coverV Gehinged at the top and having a knob for raising it. The tank 6 is encircled by a cooling coil 1| having an inlet 12 and an outlet 13 and supporting legs 14, and the tank 6 is supported on legs 15 in the housing The member 23 is affixed to the top of the housing by screws for which holes 16 are provided in this member. The tank 5 is adapted to receive a liquid refrigerating medium which is kept at a low temperature by the contents of the cooling coil 1 I.

The construction of the apparatus is thus comparatively simple, comprising few parts that are easy to produce and assemble. The apparatus can be built at a reasonable cost and is certain in operation and durable in construction.

The upper end of the cylinder 43 is closed by a screw cap 11, with a bearing aperture 18 therein. This aperture or port is intended to allow the insertion of a rod indicated at 19 which can be screwed into a threaded hole 8|) in the piston 52. This rod is utilized occasionally for testing the pistons 5| and 52 and working them free. When the rod 19 is not needed the port 18 is closed by a cap 8| screwed upon the boss 82 surrounding the port 18.

The housing l is flat on the side adjacent the panel and rounded on the opposite side, and the lid 69 has approximately the shape of a halfcircle. The tank 5 is preferably round and is disposed mostly under the cover 69 and adjacent the rounded side of the housing, to make room for mixing cup 6 and the cylinders 31 and G3 near the flat side of the housing; the container 4 being under the container 5.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a housing, a container for a liquid under pressure, a separate container for a avoring substance, a mixing casing and a pair of measuring vessels each enclosing a movable part, all in said housing, pipe connections from one of said vessels to the container for liquid and the mixing casing for delivering a quantity of said liquid to the mixing casing, pipe connections from the other of said vessels to the other container and the mixing casing for delivering a quantity of said ilavoring substance to the mixing casing, and means for controlling all of said connections, said casing having an outlet at one end, a nozzle in the casing adjacent the outlet coupled to the connections for the ilavoring substance, and another nozzle in said casing adjacent the other end thereof coupled to the connections for said liquid, said nor.- zles being mounted to discharge towards each other in the casing to diffuse the rlavoring substance in the liquid before discharge through said outlet.

2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a housing, a container for a liquid under pressure, a separate container for a flavoring substance, a mixing casing and a pair oi measuring vessels each enclosing a movable part, all in said housing, pipe connections from one of said vessels to the container for liquid and the mixing casing for delivering a quantity of said liquid to the mixing casing, pipe connections from the other of said vessels to the other container and the mixing casing for delivering a quantityl of said iiavoring substance to the mixing casing,- and* meansfor controlling all of saidconnections,` said mixing casing having an outlet at one end, a

nozzle in saidcasing adjacent the outlet, coupled tothe connections for the flavoring-substance,

and another nozzle in` said casing adjacent they nected to be operated in unison, and means forv actuating said valves.

3. Apparatus 'of the kind described comprising a housing, a container for liquid under pressure, a separate container for a flavoring substance, a pair of measuring vessels each containing a movable part, and a mixing chamber, all in said housing, connections between one of said vessels and the container for liquid and said casing for delivering a quantity of said liquid to said casing, connections between the other vessel, the other container and said casing for delivering a quantity of flavoring substance to said casing,I which has the form of an inverted cone in said housing with a delivery outlet at its smaller end, a nozzle in the casing adjacent the smaller end coupled to the connections for the flavoring substance, another nozzle in the casing adjacent the opposite end thereof coupled to the connections :for the liquid, a cooling coil in the housing surrounding the container for the iiavoring substance, said casing and said vessels, a discharge pipe leading to the exterior of the housing from the outlet of the casing, the other end of said casing having a cover with an opening therein and an air pipe connecting said opening to the outside of the housing, and means for controlling all said connections, said nozzles being mountedto discharge towards each other in the casing to diffuse the flavoring substance in the liquid before discharge from the casing.

4. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a housing, a container for liquid, a separate container for a flavoring substance, a mixing casing and a pair of measuring vessels each enclosing a movable part, connections between one of said vessels and said casing and the container for fiavoring substance, connections between the other of said vessels and the casing and the container for liquid, means for controlling said connections comprising a pair of valves, a block on the exterior of the housing having seats for the valves, the block also having a bearing open at its outer end only, a shaft in the bearing having one end projecting therefrom, gearing connecting the shaft to said valves and means for operating the shaft to actuate said valves.

5. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a housing, a container for liquid and a separate container for a iiavoring substance, a mixing casing and a pair of measuring vessels each enclosing a movable part, connections between one of said vessels and said casing and the container for flavoring substance, connections between the other of said vessels and the casing and the container for liquid, means for controlling said connections comprising a pair of valves, a block on the exterior of the housing having seats for the valves and the Vblock also having a bearing open at its outer end only, a shaft in the bearing having one end projecting therefrom, gearing connecting the shaft to said valves and means for operating the shaft to actuate said valves, said means comprising a ratchet on the shaft and a pawl to turn said ratchet.

HARTWELL DE MILLE.

REFERENCES CITED Ihe folowing references are of record inthe ie of this patent:

Number 8'A UNITED STATES. PATENTS 4 Brochner May 30, 195,0 

